EU increases funding for Ukrainians affected by war

The European Union has stepped up its support for Ukrainians and provided the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) with additional funding of €12 million.

The information was posted on the website of the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

These funds are aimed at helping citizens affected by the war and in need of support as they prepare for the fourth winter of full-scale invasion.

This package will provide approximately 359,000 people with the most basic necessities during the cold weather. As the EU Delegation emphasized, Russia's attacks on energy infrastructure only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis: in September alone, more than 30 attacks on energy facilities were recorded.

Priority in providing assistance will be given to vulnerable families and individuals living near the front line or the state border, where homes have been destroyed and access to electricity and other basic services is difficult. The support is also targeted at the elderly, people with disabilities and chronic diseases.

Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, said that this support is vital for those who are once again facing the most difficult conditions, while Marianne Franco, Head of the EU Humanitarian Aid Office in Ukraine, emphasized that the funding is a testament to the unwavering support of the Ukrainian people.

With the new assistance package , UNHCR will provide heating fuel (including firewood), winter clothing, and repair damaged homes. In addition, the agency plans to install heaters and insulation in collective centers to improve conditions for internally displaced persons. The program will be implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy, the Pension Fund of Ukraine, regional administrations and the Office of the President.

Катерина Глушко